Scarlets signed off the 2023-24 season with a bonus-point 32-15 victory over the Dragons in the opening match of Judgement Day.

Tomi Lewis sprinted over for a brace of tries, while Kemsley Mathias and Dan Davis also crossed in a comprehensive victory,

The win lifted the Scarlets to 13th in the final BKT URC standings and for Dwayne Peel and his squad it was a positive ending to what has been a difficult campaign.

After a cagey start from both sides it was the Dragons who got the scoreboard operator moving on eight minutes thanks to a penalty from the boot of Will Reed following an illegal challenge from Sam Lousi.

A mistake from the Dragons attempting to run the ball out from deep allowed Sam Costelow to level the scores as both sides struggled for fluency in the opening quarter.

A searing break from Costelow almost put the flying Lewis away, but the winger just couldn’t keep hold of a difficult pass.

The Scarlets didn't have to wait much longer for their try, though. From a scrum penalty, Costelow kicked to the corner and a powerful line-out surge saw Mathias, on his 50th Scarlets appearance, touch down. It needed a few viewings from the officials, but the score was given with Costelow adding the extras.

Eddie James was shown yellow for a hit on Aneurin Owen on the half hour mark, but the 14-man Scarlets managed to hold out on their own line and clear their lines courtesy of a surging charge from Alex Craig, part of a herculean effort from the official player of the match,

Moments later the Scarlets fans were celebrating their second try.

Gareth Davies made the break from the scrum, then replacement Ioan Lloyd and Lewis combined to send openside Davis racing over. Lloyd converted to make it 17-3 at the break.

Four minutes after the restart, the Scarlets were over again, courtesy of a poacher’s score from Lewis, who intercepted Rio Dyer’s speculative off-load to race in unopposed from 30 metres.

Lewis was sprinting over again for the bonus-point score following a break from Costelow that had the Dragons defence in all sorts of bother. This time the fly-half was wide with the conversion.

Dragons needed a response and got it through a try by replacement Sio Tomkinson to make it 29-8 and the winger was over in the same spot again.

But a Costelow penalty ensured there was no nervy finale for the Scarlets fans in the Cardiff City Stadium,

Scarlets - tries: K. Mathias, D. Davis, T. Lewis (2). Cons: S. Costelow (2), I. Lloyd.. Pens: Costelow (2)

Dragons - tries: S. Tomkinson (2). Con: W. Reed. Pen: Ree.